Drinking water for the Gondologo School
The project aimed to meet the water needs of the Gondologo School and the surrounding population by repairing an existing well and installing an electro-solar supply system, with a pump capacity of over 10 million litres of water.
The Gondologo School and the surrounding population of over 1,000 people were provided with access to clean and safe water. The school grew from 120 students in 2012 to accommodate 8 additional classes of 45 students each. The system operates almost maintenance free apart from regular cleaning of the solar panels and periodical replacement of the distribution taps. The water is sold at a cost to cover future maintenance and repair costs.
The Swiss association Ingénieurs et Architectes Solidaires (IAS) brings together professionals and students who are interested in alternative technologies. It works on a voluntary basis to install systems that are adapted to developing countries that lack energy resources.
Burkina Faso
Population
19.1 million (2017)
Per Capita Income
USD 590/year (2017)
Poverty rate *
40% (2014)
Literacy rate
35% (2016)
Human Development Index
183rd country out of 189 countries (2018)
Following the popular uprising in October 2014, Burkina Faso democratically elected, in November 2015, its first civilian president since its independence. The country’s new political stability and fiscal and budgetary reforms have led to improvements in public finances; however, it remains one of the world’s poorest countries. Sustained efforts and investments have generated positive human development trends, although access to basic services remains an important concern due to poorly developed community-based services. Despite progress in gross primary school enrolment Burkina Faso has one of the lowest literacy rates in the world. Access to secondary education remains low (13%), as is the quality of the system.
Sources: World Food Program, UNICEF, World Bank, 2016 Human Development Report, Human Development Indices and Indicators (2018 Statistical Update)
*The percentage of the population living below the national poverty line.